LABORATORY ERRORS - SUSPECTED, REAL OR IMAGINED?

We strive to provide rapid, accurate laboratory data by continually implementing more
accurate and precise methods and by improving our quality assurance techniques. In spite
of these efforts, occasional errors will occur due to the human element involved and due
to the inherent limitations of current methods.

You are the ultimate quality control for the laboratories and we suggest that you scan
laboratory results with these questions in mind:

Is the result reasonable? (e.g., a serum potassium of 50 mEq/L in a living
patient obviously is an error, probably due to a misplaced decimal point). If not, see
step 4.

Is the result consistent? (a) chronologically with results on previous
samples from the patient? (e.g., a report of BUN of 200 mg/dl in a patient with a normal
BUN the previous day); (b) internally with other results on the same sample? (e.g.,
Do the electrolytes balance?) If not, see step 3.

If the reported result is not consistent with the clinical findings, could the
inconsistency be due to:

Collection technique? (e.g., wrong anticoagulant used, prolonged tourniquet
application, use of a hypodermic and syringe rather than vacutainer system which is more
efficient and less likely to cause hemolysis, etc.)

If a laboratory error is suspected after analysis of the reported data,
please
forward and order request marked: "Confirmation Request for (test) of (date and
time).The request must include the physician's name and pager number.

Upon receipt of a confirmation request, the laboratory will:

Check original data to detect transcription errors;

Repeat study on original sample (if available) to detect error in original
determination;

Repeat determination on a new sample on the patient to detect possible error in patient
or specimen identification;

If steps (b) and (c) confirm the original results, the clinical findings and drug
history arereviewed for possible unsuspected disease or complications and for possible
drug interferences;

The results of the confirmation are reported to the physician by the Clinical Pathology
Resident (501-688-2820). (No charge is made to the patient for a Confirmation Request).

Erroneous laboratory results (whether clerical or analytical errors) which have
been entered into the patient's computer record will be replaced with the corrected
results. A numeric result will appear on the patient report with the notation
"Previously Reported As" followed by the old result. Text results that are
replaced will display the notation "Corrected Report" with the new result
underneath. "Previously Reported As" will be followed by the old text result.